JP5455007B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer.

Conventionally, an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method is widely known. This method is called the Carlson process, and the toner image is obtained on various transfer media such as plain paper by repeating the steps of charging, exposure, development, transfer, cleaning and initialization on the surface of the latent image carrier. . Then, the transferred toner image is heated and melted and fixed on the transfer medium to obtain a final image. Therefore, the cleaning process is indispensable in the Carlson process. As the cleaning process, there is known a process in which the transfer residual toner on the latent image carrier is removed by rubbing a cleaning member such as a cleaning blade or a cleaning brush against the surface of the latent image carrier.
In the configuration including such a cleaning member, there arises a problem that the surface of the latent image carrier is worn by sliding of the cleaning member and the life of the latent image carrier is reduced. In addition, when a latent image carrier made of an abrasion-resistant material is used in order to prevent the life of the latent image carrier from being reduced by rubbing the cleaning member, the latent image carrier has photoconductivity. However, a material having excellent wear resistance is used, which causes a problem that the material selection range of the latent image carrier is narrowed.

In recent years, image forming apparatuses equipped with a cleaner-less system that reuses toner that has been discarded in the cleaning process are also frequently seen. The feature of this cleanerless system is that unnecessary toner is collected in the development process by passing the surface of the latent image carrier on which the transfer residual toner exists after passing through the transfer position as it is through the charging / exposure process. Therefore, this method is sometimes called a simultaneous development cleaning method. As such a cleanerless type image forming apparatus, for example, there is an image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1.
However, the toner remaining on the photoconductor after passing through the transfer process contains a relatively large amount of toner whose charge polarity is reversed and weakly charged toner. For this reason, it is difficult to say that the untransferred toner can be suitably used as it is for the development process. Therefore, the conventional cleanerless type image forming apparatus newly requires a charging member for controlling the toner charging polarity for returning the charging polarity of the transfer residual toner to normal in order to clean the latent image carrier in the developing process. It is. In such a cleaner-less method, charging is performed by a charging member for controlling the toner charging polarity separately from the charging necessary for forming a toner image on the latent image carrier, and therefore the surface of the latent image carrier is statically charged. There is a problem that the life of the latent image carrier is reduced due to the electric hazard. In addition, when a latent image carrier made of a material that is resistant to a hazard due to charging is used, there is a problem that the range of material selection for the latent image carrier is narrowed, as in the case of using the wear-resistant material described above. .
As described above, in the configuration in which the toner image is directly formed on the surface of the latent image carrier, there are problems that the life of the latent image carrier is reduced and the material selection range of the latent image carrier is narrowed.

  In the Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-238449 (hereinafter referred to as the prior application), the applicant of the present invention has proposed that the toner image on the latent image carrier is developed at least by development as a configuration in which a toner image is not directly formed on the surface of the latent image carrier. A configuration is proposed in which the surface of the latent image carrier is coated so as to be wrapped around the surface of the latent image carrier so that the surface of the latent image carrier is coated at the toner image forming position where the toner image is formed. In the configuration described in the prior application, the electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier is developed through the coating film, and the next toner image is formed on the coating film having the toner image formed on the surface. It is separated from the surface of the latent image carrier before. Therefore, it is possible to form an image without direct contact of the toner with the surface of the latent image carrier, and to improve the problems caused by the above-described configuration of directly forming the toner image on the surface of the latent image carrier. Can do.

Further, the above-mentioned prior application includes a coating film supply device that winds the coating film before being supplied to the surface of the latent image carrier around the shaft member, accommodates it in a roll shape, and sends it toward the supply position, and the latent image carrier An image forming apparatus is described that includes a coated film collection device that winds a coated film after being separated from the surface with a shaft member and collects the coated film in a roll shape. In the image forming apparatus of this configuration, the number of windings of the coating film roll of the coating film supply apparatus is large at the beginning of use, and the number of windings of the coating film roll of the coating film collecting apparatus is almost zero, and only the shaft member is in a state. By performing image formation from this state, the number of windings of the coating film of the coating film supply device decreases, and the number of windings of the coating film of the coating film recovery device increases. Then, when the coating film is not wound by the coating film supply device, the coating film cannot be supplied to the latent image carrier.
For this reason, when winding of the coating film of a coating film supply apparatus is lost, the shaft member and coating film of a coating film supply apparatus and a coating film collection | recovery apparatus are replaced | exchanged. When exchanging the shaft member and the covering film, the shaft member around which the covering film of the covering film supply device is wound and the roll-shaped covering film and the shaft member of the covering film collecting device are removed from the apparatus main body. And, by mounting the shaft member wound with the coating film in a roll shape on the coating film supply device side, and mounting the shaft member that winds the coating film after separation from the latent image carrier on the coating film collection device side, It will be in the state of the start of use mentioned above, and exchange will complete | finish a shaft member and a covering film.

Since such an exchange between the shaft member and the covering film is performed every time the covering film of the covering film supply device is no longer wound, a structure that holds the covering film is required to have a high exchangeability.
This requirement is that the configuration in which the covering film before being supplied to the latent image carrier or the covering film after being separated and collected from the latent image carrier is held around the shaft member It is not limited to.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a latent image carrier coating film on the surface of the latent image carrier upstream of the toner image forming position in the surface movement direction of the latent image carrier. A member for holding the covering film before supply and a member for holding the recovered covering film when the covering film disappears from the member for holding the covering film before being supplied to the latent image carrier in the winding configuration. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be easily replaced.

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a latent image carrier that moves on the surface, charging means that uniformly charges the surface of the latent image carrier, and an electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier. An image forming apparatus comprising: a latent image forming unit that forms a toner image; and a toner image forming unit that supplies toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier to form a toner image. a cover film winding means to wind the object covering film you coat the surface of the upper Kisenzo bearing member latent image bearing member surface with the toner image forming position where a toner image is formed by the toner image forming means, said Before the surface of the latent image carrier coated with the coating film reaches the position where the coating film can be wound again by the coating film winding means, the toner image forming position in a state where the surface of the latent image carrier is coated. The coated film that passed through The covering film separating means for separating from the surface of the latent image carrier, the transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on the covering film at the toner image forming position onto a recording medium, and the covering film winding means. A supply film holding member for holding the coating film before being supplied to a position wound around the image carrier, and a recovery for collecting and holding the coating film separated from the surface of the latent image carrier by the coating film separating means. A film holding member, integrally supporting the supply film holding member and the recovered film holding member, and having a covering film holding cartridge that is detachable from the apparatus main body, the covering film winding means, Ri configuration der wrapping the coated film prior to said latent image bearing member surface is uniformly charged by the charging means, the coated film coercive Cartridge is characterized in configuration der Rukoto detached from the apparatus main body by pulling out in a width direction orthogonal on the surface of the latent image bearing member surface movement direction of the latent image carrier.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the supply film holding member winds the coating film before being supplied to the latent image carrier around the shaft portion and holds it as a supply film roll. A recovery film holding member, and the recovery film holding member winds and recovers the coated film separated from the latent image carrier at the shaft portion and holds it as a roll-like recovery film roll It is a winding shaft.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, a member that contacts or approaches the covering film in a state in which the covering film holding cartridge is mounted on the main body of the apparatus. The cartridge is separated from the coating film when the cartridge is removed from the apparatus main body.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, when the covering film holding cartridge is removed from the apparatus main body, the covering film adheres to the latent image carrier. It is provided with the film adhesion release means which cancels.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the covering film holding cartridge is removed from the main body of the apparatus, and then is changed in the mounting direction to the main body of the supply. The film holding member and the recovered film holding member can be attached to the apparatus main body with the positions thereof being exchanged.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the covering film separates the surface of the latent image carrier and fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The fixing unit of the fixing device enters the fixing unit together with the recording medium, and is separated from the recording medium after passing through the fixing unit.
The invention according to claim 7 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the covering film held by the supply film holding member and the covering film held by the recovery film holding member. The coating film is conveyed in the opposite direction to the conveyance of the coating film during image formation from the supply film holding member to the recovery film holding member after the latent image carrier is coated from the supply film holding member. It is characterized by being configured to be possible.

  According to the present invention, since the supply film holding member and the recovery film holding member are integrally supported and the covering film holding cartridge is detachable from the apparatus main body, the supply film holding member can be supplied by replacing the covering film holding cartridge. Since the exchange between the film holding member and the collected film holding member is completed, there is an excellent effect that the supply film holding member and the collected film holding member can be easily exchanged.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire copying machine according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of an image forming unit of the copier according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the covering film and the sheet face each other at the transfer position of the image forming unit of the copying machine according to the first embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the process of separating the member which contacts or adjoins with respect to a covering film with the structure of Embodiment 1 from a covering film. Explanatory drawing of the state by which the tension | tensile_strength of the coating film was cancelled | released by the structure of Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of replacement of a covering film holding cartridge in the configuration of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a state where a pre-use cartridge is attached to a cartridge attachment position in the configuration of the first embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the process made to contact or adjoin the member which contacts or adjoins with a coating film with the structure of Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming unit that is in the vicinity of a photoconductor of a copying machine according to Modification 1; Explanatory drawing of the process of separating the member which contacts or adjoins with a coating film by the structure of the modification 1 from a coating film. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for releasing the adhesion of the covering film to the photoconductor in the configuration of the first modification. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a coated film holding cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body in the copying machine according to the first modification. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram in which a coating film is brought into contact with a photoreceptor in a copying machine according to a first modification. Explanatory drawing of the process of making the member which contacts or adjoins with a coating film by the structure of the modification 1 contact or adjoins a coating film. The perspective view at the time of the state which carries the coating film holding | maintenance cartridge of the modified example 1. FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view when the coated film holding cartridge according to Modification 1 is mounted on a copying machine. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire copying machine according to a second embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged explanatory diagram of an image forming unit of a copying machine according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a covering film and a sheet face each other at a transfer position of an image forming unit of a copying machine according to a second embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the process of separating the member which contacts or adjoins with a coating film with the structure of Embodiment 2 from a coating film. Explanatory drawing of the state by which the tension | tensile_strength of the coating film was cancelled | released by the structure of Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of replacement of a covering film holding cartridge in the configuration of the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a state where a pre-use cartridge is attached to a cartridge attachment position in the configuration of the second embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the process made to contact or adjoin the member which contacts or adjoins with a coating film with the structure of Embodiment 2. FIG.

Embodiment 1
Hereinafter, a first embodiment (hereinafter referred to as Embodiment 1) in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described below, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine 500) as an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
In the copying machine 500, a copying machine main body 100 for forming an image is placed on a sheet bank 300 as a paper feeding device, and an image reading device 200 is attached to the upper part of the copying machine main body 100. An automatic document feeder 400 that can be opened and closed up and down with the back side as a fulcrum is mounted on the image reading apparatus 200.

The copying machine main body 100 is provided with a drum-shaped photoreceptor 10 as an image carrier inside.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of the image forming unit that is in the vicinity of the photoconductor 10 of the copying machine main body 100 of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a coating film F at the transfer position B of the image forming unit shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state to which sheet | seat S and oppose.
A charging device including a charging roller 8 is disposed around the photoconductor 10 on the left side of the photoconductor 10. Around the photosensitive member 10, the charging roller 8, the developing device 12, and the transfer device 13 are sequentially arranged from the upstream side of the surface moving direction with respect to the surface moving direction (counterclockwise direction) of the photosensitive member 10 indicated by an arrow A in the drawing. ing. Note that the copying machine 500 is not provided with a cleaning device for cleaning the photoreceptor 10.
Further, in the developing device 12, by using the developing roller 4, toner is attached on a coating film F, which will be described in detail later, to visualize the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 10.

In addition, the transfer device 13 is configured by a transfer belt 17 being stretched between a first stretching roller 15 and a second stretching roller 16 that are arranged above and below, and at the transfer position B, the periphery of the photosensitive member 10. Pressed against the surface and brought into contact. At the transfer position B, the transfer roller 7 facing the photoconductor 10 with the transfer belt 17 interposed therebetween is disposed, and the transfer belt 17 forms a coating film F to be described later by a transfer nip formed by the photoconductor 10 and the transfer roller 7. It is in contact with the photoconductor 10 with being sandwiched.
In the copying machine main body 100, a supply film that holds a coating film F, which is a “coating film” that covers the surface of the photoreceptor 10 at a development position where the developing roller 4 faces the surface of the photoreceptor 10, as a supply film roll 20r. A winding shaft 20 is provided. Further, a recovery film take-up shaft 19 that winds and recovers the coated film F separated from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 and holds it as a recovery film roll 19r is provided. The copying machine 500 according to the first embodiment includes a covering film holding cartridge 18 that integrally supports the supply film winding shaft 20 and the recovered film winding shaft 19 and is detachable from the copying machine 500 main body. .
In the copying machine 500, a new coating film F is applied to the surface of the photoreceptor 10 from the supply film roll 20 r wound around the supply film winding shaft 20 disposed in the coating film holding cartridge 18 in accordance with the surface movement of the photoreceptor 10. Is supplied.

  Further, inside the copying machine main body 100, a sheet S, which is a recording medium fed from a sheet cassette 61 (described later) in the sheet bank 300, is conveyed from the lower side to the upper side through the transfer position B to the stack position. A transport device C is provided. The sheet conveying apparatus C forms a supply path R1, a manual feed path R2, and a sheet conveyance path R.

  In the sheet conveyance path R, the registration roller 21 is disposed at a position upstream of the photosensitive member 10 in the conveyance direction of the sheet S. Further, a thermal fixing device 22 is disposed at a position downstream of the photosensitive member 10 in the transport direction. The thermal fixing device 22 includes a heating roller 30 as a heating member having a heat source therein and a pressure roller 32 as a pressure member.

  Further, a discharge roller 35 is disposed further downstream in the conveyance direction of the heat fixing device 22, and a discharge stack unit 39 for stacking sheets on which images have been formed is further provided.

  A laser writing device 47 is provided on the left side of the developing device 12 in the drawing. The laser writing device 47 includes a laser light source (not shown), a scanning rotary polygon mirror 48, a polygon motor 49, a scanning optical system 50 such as an fθ lens, and the like.

  The image reading apparatus 200 includes a light source 53, a plurality of mirrors 54, an imaging optical lens 55, an image sensor 56 such as a CCD, and the like. A contact glass 57 is provided on the upper surface.

  The automatic document feeder 400 on the contact glass 57 is provided with a document setting table (not shown) at the document placement position and a document stack table (not shown) at the discharge position. In addition, a sheet conveyance device having a document conveyance path (not shown) that conveys a document sheet from a document setting table to a document stacking table through a reading position on the contact glass 57 of the image reading device 200 is provided. The sheet conveying apparatus includes a plurality of sheet conveying rollers (not shown) that convey the original sheet.

  The sheet bank 300 includes therein a plurality of sheet cassettes 61 for storing sheets S such as transfer paper and OHP film as recording media. Each sheet cassette 61 includes a calling roller 62, a supply roller 63, and a separation roller 64, respectively. A supply path R1 leading to the sheet conveyance path R of the copying machine main body 100 is formed on the right side of the multi-stage sheet cassette 61 in the drawing. The supply path R <b> 1 is also provided with a plurality of sheet transport rollers 66 that apply a transport force to the sheet S by rotating and transport the sheet S.

  A manual paper feed unit 68 is provided on the right side of the copying machine main body 100 in the drawing. The manual feed unit 68 includes a manual feed tray R that can be freely opened and closed, and a manual feed path R <b> 2 that guides the manually fed sheet S set on the manual feed tray 67 to the sheet conveyance path R. Similarly to the sheet cassette 61, the manual feed tray 67 is also provided with a calling roller 62, a supply roller 63, and a separation roller 64.

  When copying using the copying machine 500 having such a configuration, first, a main switch (not shown) is turned on, and a document is set on a document setting table of the automatic document feeder 400. In the case of a book document, the automatic document feeder 400 is opened, the document is set directly on the contact glass 57 of the image reading device 200, and the automatic document feeder 400 is closed to press the document.

  When a start switch (not shown) is pressed, when the document is set on the automatic document feeder 400, the image reader 200 is driven after the document is moved on the contact glass 57 through the document conveyance path by the sheet conveyance roller. Then, the document contents are read and discharged onto the document stacking table. On the other hand, when the document is set directly on the contact glass 57, the image reading apparatus 200 is immediately driven to read the content of the document.

  When the image reading apparatus 200 is driven, the image reading apparatus 200 moves the light source 53 along the contact glass 57, reflects light from the light source 53 on the document surface on the contact glass 57, and reflects the reflected light into a plurality of light. The light is reflected by the mirror 54, passes through the imaging optical lens 55, is put in the image sensor 56, and the image content is read by the image sensor 56.

  At the same time, as the electrostatic latent image forming process, the photosensitive member 10 is rotated by a photosensitive member driving motor (not shown), and the surface of the photosensitive member 10 is supplied from the supply film roll 20r by the charging device 11 using the charging roller 8. The film is uniformly charged through the coated film F. Next, an electrostatic latent image forming step is performed by irradiating laser light from the laser writing device 47 according to the content of the original read by the image reading device 200. Next, a toner is attached to the coating film F that covers the surface of the photoreceptor 10 using the developing device 12 in accordance with the latent image formed on the photoreceptor 10 below the coating film F, thereby electrostatic latent image. Is visualized (developed).

On the other hand, simultaneously with the pressing of the start switch, the sheet S is sent out by the calling roller 62 from the sheet cassette 61 that accommodates the sheet S of the selected size among the multi-stage sheet cassettes 61 in the sheet bank 300. The sheet S sent out by the calling roller 62 is separated and conveyed one by one by a supply roller 63 and a separation roller 64 following the calling roller 62, and is sent to the supply path R1. The sheet S sent to the supply path R <b> 1 is conveyed by the sheet conveyance roller 66, guided to the sheet conveyance path R, and abutted against the registration roller 21 and stopped. Then, the registration roller 21 rotates so that the timing at which the toner image visualized on the coating film F on the surface of the photoconductor 10 reaches the transfer position B of the sheet S coincides, and the sheet S is moved to the photoconductor 10. It is sent to the right side of.
When an image is formed on the manual sheet S set on the manual feed tray 67, the manual sheet S set on the manual feed tray 67 of the manual sheet feeder 68 is sent to the manual supply path R2. Then, as in the case where image formation is performed on the sheet S in the sheet cassette 61 described above, the manual sheet S is fed to the right side of the photoconductor 10 in synchronization with the rotation of the photoconductor 10 by the registration roller 21. .

  The sheet S fed to the right side of the photoconductor 10 covers the surface of the photoconductor 10 at the transfer position B, and overlaps with the coating film F on which the toner image is formed. In the copying machine 500 of the first embodiment, a transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller 7 by a bias applying device (not shown), and a transfer electric field is formed between the transfer roller B and the photoconductor 10. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the toner image facing the sheet S at the transfer position B moves from the surface of the covering film F covering the photoreceptor 10 to the sheet S by the transfer electric field, and the toner image is moved to the covering film. Transferred from the surface of F to the surface of the sheet S. The sheet S on which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photoconductor 10 covered with the covering film F and conveyed to the heat fixing device 22.

In the copying machine 500 of the first embodiment, the covering film F is stretched between the surface of the photoreceptor 10 downstream of the transfer position B in the surface movement direction and the collecting film roll 19r of the collecting film winding shaft 19. For this reason, the covering film F is pulled in the direction of the recovery film take-up shaft 19 arranged in a direction different from the conveying direction of the sheet S (the direction from the photoconductor 10 to the heat fixing device 22). The sheet is separated from the sheet S along the surface, and then separated from the surface of the photoreceptor 10. In the copying machine 500 according to the first embodiment, the configuration in which the covering film F is stretched between the collecting film roll 19r of the collecting film winding shaft 19 and the photoreceptor 10 functions as the covering film separating unit.
The surface of the photoconductor 10 that has passed the transfer position B and from which the coating film F has been separated is removed from the residual potential by a neutralizing device (not shown), and is ready for the next image formation starting from the charging roller 8 described above.

On the other hand, the sheet S on which the toner image has been transferred and conveyed to the thermal fixing device 22 is passed through a fixing nip as a fixing portion formed by the heating roller 30 and the pressure roller 32 and conveyed to these rollers. At the same time, heat and pressure are applied to fix the toner image to the sheet S.
Thereafter, the sheet S on which the toner image is fixed passes through the discharge roller 35 and is discharged and stacked on the discharge stack portion 39.
The copying machine 500 according to the first exemplary embodiment is a monochrome image forming apparatus that includes one photosensitive member and one developing device. However, a full-color image forming device in which four developing devices are arranged on one photosensitive member. Even so, a configuration in which a coating film is wound around the surface of the photoreceptor is applicable.

As the covering film F, a film of a transparent, lightweight and flexible film-like material having a thickness of about 10 [μm] for wrapping foods and dishes generally used as a food wrap film can be used. . These films are rich in heat resistance and water resistance, and are said to be adaptable to temperatures from minus 60 [deg.] C. to around 150 [deg.] C. Wrap film materials include cellophane, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), stretched polypropylene (OPP), nylon (NY), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and polychlorinated. Examples include vinyl (PVC) and polymethylpentene (PMP). Furthermore, polyethylene + polypropylene (PE + PP), nylon + polyethylene (NY + PE), or the like can be used as a coating film made of a composite material.
The coating film F that can be used in Embodiment 1 can transmit light, can hold static electricity, can withstand a certain amount of stress, can maintain a film state even when pulled, and does not melt to a certain extent. In addition, characteristics such that the film state can be maintained, and the film state can be maintained without being dissolved in water to some extent are also required. Needless to say, the coating film F used in Embodiment 1 is not limited to the food wrap film described above as long as it has these characteristics.

Next, the operation of supplying the covering film F will be described with reference to FIGS.
The coating film F supplied from the supply film winding shaft 20 is supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor 10 through the surface of the charging roller 8. That is, in the first embodiment, the position where the charging roller 8 and the photoconductor 10 face each other is the coating film supply position. The covering film F adheres to the photosensitive member 10 and is conveyed downstream as it is by the pressing force of the charging roller 8 and the bias charge applied for charging the photosensitive member. At this time, the surface of the photoreceptor 10 is uniformly charged. As the photosensitive member 10 rotates, the coating film F wound around the supply film winding shaft 20 is sequentially sent out. Next, an optical image is written on the photoconductor 10 uniformly charged by the writing light 3 emitted from the laser writing device 47 to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 12 to form a toner image on the coating film F covering the surface of the photoreceptor 10.
Then, the toner image facing the sheet S at the transfer position B moves from the surface of the coating film F that covers the photoreceptor 10 to the sheet S as shown in FIG. The covering film F is pulled by the recovery film take-up shaft 19 disposed in a direction different from the conveying direction of the sheet S, separated from the sheet S, and then separated from the surface of the photoreceptor 10. And it collect | recovers in roll shape as a used coating film with the collection | recovery film winding shaft 19. FIG. On the other hand, the sheet S on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the thermal fixing device 22 as in the conventional image forming apparatus, and after the toner image is fixed on the surface thereof, the sheet S is discharged to the discharge stack section 39.

  In the copying machine 500 according to the first exemplary embodiment, the surface of the photoconductor 10 is moved between the developing position where the developing roller 4 of the developing device 12 and the surface of the photoconductor 10 are opposed to the transfer position B in the moving direction of the photoconductor 10. The coating film F covers the surface. Then, after passing through the transfer position B, the coating film F is separated from the surface of the photoconductor 10, and the photoconductor 10 before development by the charging roller 8 disposed on the upstream side in the surface movement direction of the photoconductor 10 from the development position. The coating film F is wound around the surface of With such a configuration, in the copying machine 500, the toner image is formed on the coating film F that covers the photoreceptor 10, and the toner does not directly adhere to the surface of the photoreceptor 10. Therefore, the photocopier 500 of this embodiment does not require a photoconductor cleaning unit that cleans the surface of the photoconductor 10.

  As an example of a conventional image forming apparatus that does not require a photosensitive member cleaning unit, Patent Document 1 discloses a cleaner-less system that collects unnecessary toner in a development process, and increases the charging efficiency of transfer residual toner, thereby efficiently using fog toner. A cleanerless type image forming apparatus that can be removed to improve image forming quality is disclosed. In this apparatus, a charging roller, a developing device, a primary transfer roller, and a charging auxiliary means (charging brush) are arranged around the photosensitive drum. The developing device performs negative development simultaneous cleaning by moving the negatively charged toner from the rotating sleeve to the toner image forming region while moving the toner from the non-forming region to the rotating sleeve. By placing a charging brush charging auxiliary means (charging brush) downstream of the primary transfer roller and applying -1000 [V], the transfer residual toner on the photosensitive drum is negatively charged. In the primary transfer from the photosensitive drum to the intermediate transfer belt, a primary transfer bias voltage of 700 [V] higher than 500 [V] applied in the toner image formation region is primary transferred in the inter-paper space where the toner image is not formed. This is to prevent defects in the residual toner by applying to the roller.

In an image forming apparatus equipped with an electrophotographic cleanerless system, the cleaning member is not completely eliminated but an alternative member is required.
The reason for this is that “transfer residual toner remains on the image carrier against the transfer bias voltage of the transfer device that draws the toner charged to the normal charge polarity to the recording material or the intermediate transfer belt. Most of the toner is insufficiently charged or charged to a polarity opposite to the normal charging polarity, and like a toner charged to the normal charging polarity, it is not collected on the developing member by dynamic development. ''"Especially when the image formation with a high image ratio is performed continuously and the toner is replenished in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment or during durability, the proportion of the toner with insufficient charge increases, so that the image is formed as a so-called fog toner. A large amount of toner adheres to the carrier because the charge in the developing device is low and the environment is such that the charge application is severe. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of the cleanerless type, a charging auxiliary means is arranged on the downstream side of the transfer device to prevent a transfer residue that is insufficiently charged. The toner or the transfer residual toner charged to the opposite polarity is charged to the normal charging polarity. That is, even though the cleanerless system is used, a member that substitutes the function of the cleaning member is required.

In addition, in the configuration in which the charging auxiliary means is provided on the downstream side of the transfer device as in Patent Document 1, an electrostatic hazard is applied to the surface of the latent image carrier separately from the charging and exposure necessary for forming the toner image. The life of the latent image carrier is likely to be shortened due to a change in photoconductivity on the surface of the latent image carrier due to electrostatic hazards, as compared with a configuration without auxiliary means.
Even if a member that replaces the function of the cleaning member is provided, there is a limit in removing the toner directly attached to the surface of the photoreceptor once.

As another example of a conventional image forming apparatus that does not require a photoconductor cleaning means, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 03-065146 discloses an apparatus that obtains an image by feeding a sheet film and superimposing it on another transfer medium. Yes. This apparatus obtains a latent image by exposing a film sheet of microcapsule paper, which is a photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper, and then superimposes it on developer paper as a recording paper to obtain an image. Then, by passing both of them through a pressure developing device, the microcapsules of the microcapsule paper are destroyed, so that the dye precursor of the unexposed portion is applied to the surface of the developer paper as the recording paper. It reacts with and develops color. Next, the color fixing is promoted by a heat fixing device to obtain a final image.
The apparatus described in this publication has an example of an apparatus that obtains an image by superimposing a sheet and a recording sheet, but this does not use an electrophotographic method, and there is no problem of cleaning when toner remains. The image forming apparatus is essentially different from the copier 500 of the first embodiment.

On the other hand, in the copying machine 500 according to the first embodiment, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 10 that is an electrophotographic photoconductor is developed through the coating film F that is a film layer, and then this toner image is transferred to the sheet S. Then, by repeating the step of separating the coating film F from the photoconductor 10, it is possible to essentially prevent the toner from remaining on the photoconductor 10. For this reason, a cleaning means for cleaning the photoreceptor 10 is unnecessary.
Further, since the film layer made of the covering film F protects the photosensitive layer of the photoreceptor 10, not only the influence of mechanical wear can be avoided, but also the electrical influence can be reduced. There is also an effect that the durability of 10 is dramatically improved.

Next, the developing device 12 that forms a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 on the coating film F will be described.
The developing device 12 provided in the copying machine 500 is a two-component developing device composed of a magnetic carrier and toner. The copying machine 500 includes a toner bottle (not shown) that stores toner used in the developing device 12, and the toner in the toner bottle is supplied to the developing device 12 by a toner replenishing device (not shown).
The toner supplied from a toner supply port (not shown) by the toner supply device is supplied onto a developer composed of a magnetic carrier and toner in a developing container 12a which is a casing of the developing device 12. The supplied toner is transported in the depth direction of the paper surface in FIG. 2 while being agitated by the spiral second transport screw 2 together with the developer. The conveyance path provided with the second conveyance screw 2 and the conveyance path provided with the first conveyance screw 1 are communicated with each other at the rear end in the paper plane direction and the front end in the paper plane in FIG. Then, the developer that has reached the end in the paper surface in FIG. 2 by the second transport screw 2 moves to the transport path where the first transport screw 1 is arranged, and the first transport screw 1 causes the paper surface in FIG. It is conveyed from the back to the front. Then, the developer that has reached the front end in FIG. 2 by the first transport screw 1 moves to the transport path in which the second transport screw 2 is arranged. Thus, the developer circulates in the developing device 12.
The developer in which the supplied toner is agitated is pumped up to the surface of the developing roller 4 by the magnetic force of the developing roller 4 having a magnet built therein in the conveying path conveyed by the first conveying screw 1. As indicated by an arrow D in the figure, the developer adsorbed by the magnetic force on the surface of the developing roller 4 rotating in the clockwise direction in the figure is regulated to a fixed amount by the developing doctor 70 and the toner and the magnetic carrier are rubbed together. Charged.

The developer composed of the charged magnetic carrier and toner rises at the main pole of the maximum magnetic strength of the developing roller 4 and comes into contact with the coating film F that covers the surface of the photoreceptor 10. A bias voltage is applied to the developing roller 4, and toner is selectively attached to the surface of the coating film F by the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 10 and developed. The toner density of the developer in the developing container 12a is monitored by the toner density sensor 5. When the toner concentration is low, a toner replenishing device (not shown) is driven to supply toner from a toner bottle (not shown) and control is performed so as to keep the toner concentration constant.
Further, a reference pattern is formed with toner on the covering film F covering the surface of the photoreceptor 10, and the pattern density sensor 6 measures the reflection density of the reference pattern. Based on the measurement result of the pattern density sensor 6, the output value of the toner density sensor 5 is automatically selected as to which toner replenishment operation should be started.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the toner concentration sensor 5 is installed under the second conveying screw 2 that conveys the developer, and measures the toner concentration of the developer from the magnetic permeability of the developer. When the toner concentration is lowered, the magnetic carrier is concentrated, so that the magnetic permeability is increased. If the value of the magnetic permeability detected by the toner concentration sensor 5 exceeds a predetermined value (threshold value), it is determined that the toner concentration has become low, and the control unit (not shown) transfers to the toner supply device until the predetermined toner concentration is reached. A signal for toner supply operation is sent.

  By such replenishment control, the density of the reference pattern formed on the covering film F covering the surface of the photoconductor 10 is controlled to be constant, but when the toner in the toner bottle runs out, It is determined from the outputs of both the pattern density sensor 6 and the toner density sensor 5 that detect the density of the reference pattern using a determination mechanism (not shown) that the toner has run out.

  In Embodiment 1, toner is supplied from a toner bottle. The toner used in the copying machine 500 can be preferably a toner containing a polyester resin, but is not limited thereto.

Next, toner used in the copying machine 500 will be described.
The polyester of the toner containing the polyester resin is a diacid compound having a polyhydric alcohol and a polyacid (mostly a compound having a diol group and a diacid (— (COOH) ₂ ) or a diester (— (COOR) ₂ )). Alternatively, an unmodified polyester resin in which a polyester compound (unmodified polyester) is obtained by dehydration (or dealcoholization) condensation reaction with a diester compound) is used. Further, a polyisocyanate compound obtained by a condensation reaction of diisocyanate (compound having two —NCO groups) and an active hydrogen compound (particularly a compound having both diol, dioic acid, or OH group and COOH group) Further, it may contain a modified polyester resin.

  The ratio of the polyvalent isocyanate compound is usually 5/1 to 1/1, preferably 4/1, as an equivalent ratio [NCO] / [OH] of the isocyanate group [NCO] and the hydroxyl group [OH] of the polyester having a hydroxyl group. To 1.2 / 1, more preferably 2.5 / 1 to 1.5 / 1.

  By using the unmodified polyester and the urea-modified polyester in combination, the low-temperature fixability and the glossiness when used in a full-color image forming apparatus are improved. Therefore, it is preferable to use the urea-modified polyester alone. The unmodified polyester may include a polyester modified with a chemical bond other than a urea bond.

The unmodified polyester and the urea-modified polyester are preferably at least partially compatible with each other in terms of low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance. Therefore, it is preferable that the unmodified polyester and the urea-modified polyester have a similar composition.
The weight ratio of unmodified polyester to urea-modified polyester is usually about 20/80 to 95/5.
The urea-modified polyester used as the prepolymer may contain a urethane bond as well as a urea bond. The molar ratio of urea bond content to urethane bond content is usually 100/0 to 10/90.

  In the copying machine 500 of the first embodiment, toner having a melting point of about 120 [° C.] is used, the fixing temperature is set to 150 [° C.], and the coating film F that can be adapted to 150 [° C.] or higher is used.

Next, the exchange of the coating film F when the supply film roll 20r of the coating film F wound around the supply film winding shaft 20 is no longer wound will be described.
In the copying machine 500 according to the first embodiment, the supply film winding shaft 20 and the recovery film winding shaft 19 are disposed inside the covering film holding cartridge 18, and only the covering film holding cartridge 18 is replaced when the covering film F is replaced. It can be exchanged by detaching.

A procedure for replacing the covering film F will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a process of separating a member in contact with or close to the covering film F from the covering film F. As shown by arrows E ₁ , E _2, and E ₃ in FIG. 4, the developing device 12, the transfer device 13, and the charging roller 8 are separated from the coating film F. Note that the developing device 12, the transfer device 13, and the charging roller 8 included in the copier 500 according to the first embodiment are configured to be movable in a direction in which they are in contact with and separated from the coating film F by a moving structure (not shown).

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the tension of the covering film F is released.
As shown in FIG. 4, by separating the member that is in contact with or close to the coating film F from the coating film F, the tension applied to the coating film F is weakened as shown in FIG. 5, and the tension of the coating film F is released. In this state, the covering film holding cartridge 18 can be removed.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the replacement of the covering film holding cartridge 18.
As shown in FIG. 5, remove the tension of the coating film F coating film holding cartridge 18 has been canceled, from the spent as cartridge 18b of the copying machine 500 main body side as indicated by arrows H ₁ in FIG. 6 cartridge mounting position 18c. At this time, almost all of the used film Fb which is the covering film F included in the used cartridge 18b is wound around the collected film winding shaft 19. Then, the unused coating film F in which the pre-use film comprises a Fa coating film holding cartridge 18 in a pre-use cartridges 18a copier 500 main body side as indicated by arrows H ₂ in FIG. 6 cartridge mounting position 18c Attach to. At this time, almost all of the pre-use film Fa included in the pre-use cartridge 18 a is wound around the supply film winding shaft 20.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the pre-use cartridge 18a shown in FIG. 6 is attached to the cartridge attachment position 18c.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a step of bringing a member in contact with or in proximity to the coating film F into contact with or in proximity to the coating film F.
From the state of FIG. 7, the developing device 12, the transfer device 13 and the charging roller 8 are brought into contact with the coating film F as indicated by arrows I ₁ , I ₂ and I ₃ in FIG. 8. As a result, tension is applied to the coating film F, and the replacement operation of the coating film F in the copying machine 500 of the first embodiment is completed.

  If the configuration is such that a toner image is formed on the surface of the coating film F that covers the photoconductor 10, no photoconductor cleaning means for cleaning the surface of the photoconductor 10 is required, and the durability of the photoconductor 10 is improved. be able to. However, since the coating film F is thin and difficult to handle, the supply film holding member that holds the coating film F before being supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor 10 and the coating film F that is separated from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 are held. In the configuration in which the collected film holding members to be removed are individually detached from the copying machine 500, it is difficult to replace the coating film F. However, like the copying machine 500 of the first embodiment, the covering film holding cartridge 18 that integrally supports the supply film winding shaft 20 and the recovered film winding shaft 19 is detached from the copying machine 500 main body. If the replacement work is completed, the replacement can be easily performed.

  Further, in the copying machine 500 of the first embodiment, when the supply film roll 20r of the supply film winding shaft 20 is not wound, it is wound around the recovered film winding shaft 19 and the covering film F is replaced. As described with reference to FIG. 4, the member that is close to or in contact with the coating film F on the main body side of the copier 500 can be separated from the coating film F, and the coating film F can be easily exchanged.

[Modification 1]
In the copying machine 500, a part of the covering film F comes out of the covering film holding cartridge 18, and a part of the covering film F is in close contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 10 during image formation. For this reason, when the covering film holding cartridge 18 is replaced, even if a member in contact with or close to the covering film F is separated from the covering film F as shown in FIG. The coated film F may remain in close contact with the photoreceptor 10 at the portion that has been left. As described above, in a state where a part of the covering film F remains in close contact with the photosensitive member 10, it is difficult to remove the covering film holding cartridge 18 from the copying machine 500 main body.
Here, as a first modification, a configuration including a film adhesion release unit that releases adhesion of the coating film F to the photoreceptor 10 when the coating film holding cartridge 18 is removed from the copying machine 500 main body will be described.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming unit in the vicinity of the photoconductor 10 of the first modification.
As shown in FIG. 9, the copying machine 500 of the first modification is different from the copying machine 500 of the first embodiment in that the covering film holding cartridge 18 includes the film adhesion release member 14, but the other structures are common. The description of the common configuration will be omitted, and the difference will be described.
The procedure for exchanging the covering film F in the configuration of Modification 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a step of separating a member in contact with or close to the covering film F from the covering film F in the configuration of the first modification. As indicated by arrows E ₁ , E _2, and E ₃ in FIG. 10, the developing device 12, the transfer device 13, and the charging roller 8 are separated from the coating film F.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for releasing the adhesion of the covering film F to the photoreceptor 10 in the first modification.
As shown in FIG. 10, by separating a member in contact with or close to the coating film F from the coating film F, the tension applied to the coating film F is weakened, and the tension of the coating film F is released. A part of the coating film F is in close contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 10. Therefore, the film adhesion release member 14 can be slid as indicated by an arrow J in FIG. 11 to release the adhesion of the covering film F to the photoreceptor 10.
By pulling out the covering film holding cartridge 18 from the state shown in FIG. 11, the covering film holding cartridge 18 in which the supply film roll 20r of the supply film winding shaft 20 is no longer wound can be taken out from the copying machine 500 main body. it can. Next, when the supply film roll 20r is wound around the supply film winding shaft 20 and the coated film holding cartridge 18 without the recovery film roll 19r wound around the recovery film winding shaft 19 is attached to the copying machine 500 main body, it is shown in FIG. It becomes a state.

  From the state shown in FIG. 12, the film adhesion release member 14 is slid as shown by the arrow k in FIG. 13, and the collected film take-up shaft 19 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction (the same direction as that during image formation) in FIG. By doing so, the covering film F is brought into contact with the photoreceptor 10.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a step of bringing a member in contact with or close to the covering film F into contact with or close to the covering film F after the covering film holding cartridge 18 is attached in Modification 1.
As shown in FIG. 13, after the coating film F is brought into contact with the photoreceptor 10, the developing device 12, the transfer device 13 and the charging roller 8 are moved as shown by arrows I ₁ , I ₂ and I ₃ in FIG. The coating film F is brought into contact.
Thereby, the replacement work of the covering film F in the copying machine of the first modification is completed.

  In the configuration of the modified example 1, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 14, the film adhesion release member 14 for releasing the adhesion of the coating film F to the photoreceptor 10 is disposed in the coating film holding cartridge 18, and is attached / detached. The coating film F is brought into contact with and separated from the photoreceptor 10.

15 and 16 are perspective views of the covering film holding cartridge 18 according to Modification 1. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the covering film holding cartridge 18 in a state where it is carried. FIG. 16 is a covering film holding cartridge. 2 is a perspective view when 18 is mounted on the copying machine 500. FIG. In FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, reference numeral 10 a denotes a photosensitive member passage hole provided in the covering film holding cartridge 18 so that the photosensitive member 10 passes when the covering film holding cartridge 18 is attached to the copying machine 500 main body.
When the unused covering film holding cartridge 18 is attached to the copying machine 500, the covering film F is removed from the state shown in FIG. 15 by sliding the film adhesion release member 14 as shown by an arrow J in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the photosensitive member passage hole 10a is positioned outside. Then, the covering film holding cartridge 18 in the state shown in FIG. 16 is attached to the copying machine 500, and the film adhesion release member 14 is returned to the position (set position) in FIG. 15, thereby bringing the covering film F into contact with the photoreceptor 10. The state shown in FIG. 13 is obtained.
From this state, the developing device 12, the transfer device 13, and the charging roller 8 that have been separated from the coating film F are brought into contact with the coating film F to be in an image-capable state.

Since the coated film holding cartridge 18 of Modification 1 is configured symmetrically in the vertical direction, the coated film holding cartridge 18 can be turned over and reset in the copying machine 500. The coated film holding cartridge 18 is turned over with the coated film F wound around the supply film winding shaft 20 removed from the supply film roll 20r and the coated film F is wound around the recovered film winding shaft 19. By re-setting to the copying machine 500, the covering film holding cartridge 18 can be reused.
As in the copying machine 500 according to the first modification, the coating film F used once is configured such that the position of the supply film winding shaft 20 and the position of the recovery film winding shaft 19 in the copying machine 500 can be interchanged. Can be reused, and running costs can be reduced. Furthermore, since the coated film holding cartridge 18 in which the supply film roll 20r of the supply film winding shaft 20 is no longer wound can be reused without being discarded, an image forming apparatus in consideration of the environment can be provided.

In the case of the configuration in which the position of the supply film winding shaft 20 and the position of the recovery film winding shaft 19 are switched as in the first modification, the coating film on which the toner image is transferred and wound on the recovery film winding shaft 19 Since the F recovered film roll 19r is supplied to the photoreceptor 10 as the supply film roll 20r, there is a concern about the influence of the transfer residual toner on the coating film F.
For this reason, in the case of a configuration in which the position of the supply film winding shaft 20 and the position of the recovery film winding shaft 19 are switched, the coating film F after separation from the photoreceptor 10 and after the toner image is transferred to the sheet S is used. A film cleaning means for cleaning may be provided. By providing such a film cleaning means, the recovered film roll 19r is formed by the cleaned covering film F, so that the supply film winding shaft 20 and the recovery film winding shaft 19 are switched in position and supplied. Even if the film roll 20r is supplied to the photoreceptor 10, good image formation can be performed.

  Further, since the electrostatic charge after passing through the transfer position of the covering film F is sufficiently smaller than that of the photoreceptor, the toner on the covering film F after being separated from the photoreceptor 10 is easily separated from the film. For this reason, by separating the coating film F together with the sheet S and then separating the coating film F and the sheet S, it is possible to improve transferability from the coating film F to the sheet S. It is considered that there can be almost no transfer residual toner on the coating film F. In such a case, even if the above-described film cleaning unit is not provided, the position of the supply film winding shaft 20 and the position of the recovery film winding shaft 19 are switched to form the supply film roll 20r on the photoreceptor 10. Even if supplied, good image formation can be performed.

  Further, since a latent image is not formed on the covering film F, even if the contact pressure at the transfer nip is increased to increase the transfer rate, the influence on the image in the next image formation is affected by the hazard due to the contact pressure on the photoconductor 10. Smaller than that. For this reason, if it is the structure which isolate | separates the coating film F with the sheet | seat S and isolate | separates the coating film F and the sheet | seat S after that, after separating | separating from the photoreceptor 10, it provides a transfer nip and contact | abuts higher than the past with a transfer electric field. The transfer rate can be increased by the pressure, and the coating film F taken up by the recovered film take-up shaft 19 can be in a state where there is almost no transfer residual toner.

Next, an experiment for confirming that development can be performed in a state where the surface of the photoreceptor is covered with a coating film will be described.
[Experiment 1]
In Experiment 1, an experiment described below was performed using an image MP5000 (manufactured by Ricoh) as an image forming apparatus.
A PVDC film having a thickness of 10 [μm] and a trade name: Kurelap (registered trademark) were prepared as a covering film. This film is wound around a photosensitive drum in advance. Then, the image was formed on the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus was stopped at the timing when the toner image was formed on the entire circumference of the photosensitive drum without supplying the paper as the recording medium. When the photosensitive drum was removed and observed, it was recognized that an image was formed. When the film was peeled off from the surface of the photosensitive drum and the toner surface was attached to the paper, it was confirmed that the image was clear.

[Experiment 2]
In Experiment 2, the following experiment was performed using an image MP5000 (manufactured by Ricoh) as an image forming apparatus.
The pre-charged photoconductor drum was taken out in the dark, and the above-described PVDC film was wound around the photoconductor drum. The image forming apparatus was mounted on the image forming apparatus to form an image without causing the charging apparatus to function. The sheet forming medium is not supplied, and the image forming apparatus is stopped after the timing at which the toner image is formed for one rotation of the photosensitive drum. When the photosensitive drum was removed and observed, it was recognized that an image was formed on the surface of the film covering the photosensitive drum. When the film was peeled off from the surface and the toner surface was affixed to the paper, it was confirmed that the image was clear.

[Experiment 3]
In Experiment 3, the following experiment was performed using an image MP5000 (manufactured by Ricoh) as an image forming apparatus.
Similar to the copying machine 500 shown in FIG. 2, a film supply device on which a film made of PVDC is wound is mounted, and the film is rotated around the photosensitive drum and arranged up to the fixing device to perform a normal copying operation. Executed. In Experiment 3, it was confirmed that transfer paper covered with a film on which an image was fixed was stacked on the discharge stack portion.

[Experiment 4]
In Experiment 4, the following experiment was performed using an imagio MP 5000 (manufactured by Ricoh) as the image forming apparatus.
A polymethylpentene (PMP) film having a thickness of 7.5 [μm] as a covering film and a trade name: Couplap (registered trademark) were prepared. When experiments similar to Experiment 1 and Experiment 2 were performed, it was confirmed that images could be formed on the film surface.

[Experiment 5]
In Experiment 5, the following experiment was performed using an image MP5000 (manufactured by Ricoh) as an image forming apparatus.
As a substitute for the covering film, a semi-transparent second original drawing sheet having a thickness of 20 [μm] was prepared, and an experiment similar to Experiment 2 was performed. A second original drawing paper is wound around a pre-charged photosensitive drum. Then, the image forming apparatus was mounted on the image forming apparatus, and the charging device functioned to form an image. The image forming apparatus was stopped at the timing when the toner image was formed on the entire circumference of the photosensitive drum without supplying the paper. When the photosensitive drum was removed and observed, it was recognized that an image was formed. When the second original drawing paper was peeled off from the front surface and the toner surface was attached to another paper and pasted, there was no problem in recognizing the characters of the image although it was slightly blurred.

表１に示す５種類の透明フィルムのうち、厚さが１００［μｍ］のプリンタック（登録商標）以外は画像形成が可能であることが確認された。このように、厚さが１００［μｍ］のプリンタック（登録商標）では画像形成ができないのは、フィルムの厚みが厚すぎることによって、感光体ドラム上の静電潜像を形成する静電電荷に感応して静電潜像をその表面に保持することができないためと考えられる。 In addition, as an experiment similar to Experiment 1 and Experiment 2, it implemented about five types of transparent films including Kurelap (trademark) and Copelap (trademark).
Table 1 shows the conditions of the transparent film used in the actual experiment.
Further, “nominal value” in Table 1 is a representative value of the thickness of each transparent film, and “thickness” in Table 1 is an actual measured value.

Among the five types of transparent films shown in Table 1, it was confirmed that image formation was possible except for a printerac (registered trademark) having a thickness of 100 [μm]. As described above, an image cannot be formed with a 100 μm thick Printac (registered trademark) because the film is too thick to form an electrostatic charge that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum. It is considered that the electrostatic latent image cannot be held on the surface in response to the above.

  The coating film that can be used in the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied includes the ability to transmit light, hold the electrostatic latent image on the surface in response to the electrostatic charge on the latent image carrier, and to some extent. If it can withstand the stress of, can maintain the film state even if pulled, can maintain the film state without melting to some extent, and can maintain the film state without melting to some extent, Needless to say, the food wrap film is not limited to the examples. In addition, it can be said that the above-described semi-transparent second original drawing sheet was able to form an image because light of this condition was transmitted and the electrostatic charge on the latent image carrier was sensitive.

[Embodiment 2]
In the copying machine 500 of the first embodiment described above, the coating film F that has passed the transfer position B is separated from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 after being separated from the sheet S that is a recording medium. The configuration including the coating film F may be a configuration in which the coating film F that has passed the transfer position B is separated from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 together with the sheet S.
Hereinafter, as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, the surface of the photoreceptor is coated at least in the development position with a coating film, and the coating film that has passed the transfer position is separated from the surface of the latent image carrier together with the recording medium. A second embodiment (hereinafter referred to as Embodiment 2) will be described.

FIG. 17 is a schematic configuration diagram of the entire copying machine 500 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the covering film F and the sheet S face each other at the transfer position B of the image forming unit in the vicinity of the photoconductor 10 of the copying machine main body 100 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 19 is an enlarged explanatory view of the heat fixing device 22 provided in the copying machine 500 according to the third embodiment.
The copying machine 500 according to the second embodiment has a configuration in which the coating film F separated from the photoreceptor 10 is wound around the recovered film winding shaft 19 as the recovered film roll 19r after passing through the thermal fixing device 22. Unlike 500, other configurations are the same, so the description of the common configuration is omitted, and the differences will be described.

In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the copying machine 500 according to the second embodiment includes a supply film roll 20r wound around a supply film winding shaft 20 disposed in the covering film holding cartridge 18 in accordance with the surface movement of the photoconductor 10. A new coating film F is supplied to the surface of the photoconductor 10.
The covering film F supplied from the supply film roll 20 r is wound around the surface of the photoreceptor 10 through the surface of the charging roller 8 and covers the surface of the photoreceptor 10. That is, also in the second embodiment, the position where the charging roller 8 and the photoconductor 10 face each other is the coating film supply position as in the first embodiment. The covering film F adheres to the photosensitive member 10 and is conveyed downstream as it is by the pressing force of the charging roller 8 and the bias charge applied for charging the photosensitive member. At this time, the surface of the photoreceptor 10 is uniformly charged. As the photosensitive member 10 rotates, the covering film F wound around the supply film winding shaft 20 is sequentially sent out. Next, an optical image is written on the photoconductor 10 uniformly charged by the writing light 3 emitted from the laser writing device 47 to form an electrostatic latent image. This electrostatic latent image is developed at the development position by the developing device 12 to produce a toner image on the coating film F covering the surface of the photoreceptor 10. The coating film F that has passed through the development position passes through the transfer position B and also passes through the fixing nip of the thermal fixing device 22 as shown in FIG.

  The processes from reading the original content when copying using the copying machine 500 of the second embodiment to forming a toner image on the surface of the coating film F on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 are the copying machine 500 of the first embodiment. It is the same. The process until the sheet S in the sheet cassette 61 or on the manual feed tray 67 is fed to the right side of the photoreceptor 10 is the same as that of the copier 500 of the first embodiment.

  The sheet S fed to the right side of the photoconductor 10 covers the surface of the photoconductor 10 at the transfer position B, and overlaps with the coating film F on which the toner image is formed. In the copying machine 500 according to the second embodiment, a transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller 7 by a bias applying device (not shown), and a transfer electric field is formed between the transfer roller B and the photoconductor 10. The toner image facing the sheet S at the transfer position B is sandwiched between the coating film F and the sheet S as shown in FIG. The state moves from the surface of the covering film F to be coated to the sheet S, and the toner image on the sheet S is transferred. The sheet S on which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photoreceptor 10 together with the coating film F, and is conveyed to the thermal fixing device 22.

In the copying machine 500 according to the second embodiment, the coating film F is stretched between the surface of the photoreceptor 10 and the heating roller 30. For this reason, at the transfer position B, the covering film F is pulled in the direction of the heating roller 30 arranged in the same direction as the conveyance direction of the sheet S, and separated from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 together with the sheet S. In the copying machine 500 according to the second embodiment, the configuration in which the covering film F is stretched between the heating roller 30 and the photoreceptor 10 functions as the covering film separating unit.
The surface of the photoreceptor 10 from which the coating film F has been separated at the transfer position B is in a state ready for the next image formation starting from the charging roller 8 by removing the residual potential by a neutralizing device (not shown).

On the other hand, the sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred and conveyed to the thermal fixing device 22 together with the coating film F is passed through a fixing nip formed by the heating roller 30 and the pressure roller 32 together with the coating film F. In the heat fixing device 22, while the coating film F and the sheet S are conveyed to these rollers, heat and pressure are applied to fix the toner image to the sheet S.
In the copying machine 500 according to the second embodiment, the covering film F is stretched between the surface of the heating roller 30 on the downstream side of the fixing nip in the surface moving direction and the collecting film roll 19r of the collecting film winding shaft 19. For this reason, the covering film F is pulled in the direction of the recovery film take-up shaft 19 arranged in a direction different from the conveying direction of the sheet S (the direction from the heat fixing device 22 toward the discharge roller 35), and the covering film F is heated. The sheet S is separated along the surface of the roller 30. The sheet S that has passed through the fixing nip and separated from the coating film F passes through the discharge roller 35 and is discharged and stacked on the discharge stack portion 39. Further, the coating film F that has passed through the fixing nip and separated from the sheet S is wound around the recovered film winding shaft 19 as a recovered film roll 19r.

The covering film F is in a tensioned state between the supply film roll 20r of the supply film winding shaft 20 and the recovery film roll 19r of the recovery film winding shaft 19, and the recovery film winding shaft 19 The covering film F and the heating roller 30 are separated by the winding force.
Further, the coating film F and the sheet S are separated in the thermal fixing device 22, but since the wrap film is wound around the heating roller 30 in a tensioned state, one heating roller and The covering film F and the sheet S can be separated by a separation claw, a separation plate, and the like in the same manner as the separation method used in the conventional heat fixing method.

In the copying machine 500 of the second embodiment, the toner image is transferred from the top of the photoreceptor 10 to the sheet S from the development position where the developing roller 4 of the developing device 12 and the surface of the photoreceptor 10 face each other in the surface movement direction of the photoreceptor 10. Until the transfer position B moves, the coating film F covers the surface of the photoreceptor 10. Then, the coating film F is separated from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 together with the toner image at the transfer position B. Further, the coating film F separated from the surface of the photoconductor 10 together with the toner image passes through the thermal fixing device 22 and is wound around the recovery film winding shaft 19. With such a configuration, in the copying machine 500, the toner image is formed on the coating film F that covers the photoreceptor 10, and the toner does not directly adhere to the surface of the photoreceptor 10. For this reason, a photoconductor cleaning means for cleaning the surface of the photoconductor 10 is unnecessary.
The copying machine 500 according to the second exemplary embodiment is a monochrome image forming apparatus that includes one photosensitive member and one developing device, but a full-color image forming device in which four developing devices are arranged on one photosensitive member. Even so, a configuration in which a coating film is wound around the surface of the photoreceptor is applicable.

Next, a procedure for reusing the coating film F in the copying machine 500 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a process of separating a member in contact with or close to the covering film F from the covering film F. When the covering film F forming the supply film roll 20r of the supply film winding shaft 20 is used up, as shown by arrows E ₁ , E ₂ and E ₃ in FIG. The developing device 12, the transfer device 13, and the charging roller 8 are separated from the coating film F. Further, in the copying machine 500 of the second embodiment, the heating roller 30 in the thermal fixing device 22 is also in contact with the coating film F, so that the heating roller 30 is also separated from the coating film F as indicated by an arrow M in FIG. Let
Note that the developing device 12, the transfer device 13, the charging roller 8, and the heating roller 30 provided in the copying machine 500 of the second embodiment are configured to be movable in the direction of contacting and separating from the coating film F by a moving structure (not shown). Yes.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the tension of the covering film F is released.
As shown in FIG. 20, by separating the member that contacts or is close to the covering film F from the covering film F, the tension applied to the covering film F is weakened as shown in FIG. 21, and the tension of the covering film F is released. In this state, the covering film holding cartridge 18 can be removed.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of replacement of the covering film holding cartridge 18.
As shown in FIG. 21, remove the covering film covering film carrying cartridge 18 which releases the tension of F, from used as the cartridge 18b of the copying machine 500 main body side as indicated by arrows H ₁ in FIG. 22 the cartridge mounting position 18c once . At this time, almost all of the used film Fb included in the removed covering film holding cartridge 18 is wound on the recovered film winding shaft 19. Next, as the pre-use cartridge 18a having the pre-use film Fa, the covering film holding cartridge 18 removed from the copier 500 as the used cartridge 18b is directed to the opposite side, and the arrow H in FIG. _As shown by ₂ , the cartridge is mounted again at the cartridge mounting position 18c on the main body side of the copying machine 500. At this time, almost all the pre-use film Fa included in the covering film holding cartridge 18 which is the pre-use cartridge 18a is wound around the supply film winding shaft 20.

  FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the covering film holding cartridge 18 removed from the copying machine 500 is attached to the copying machine 500 again with the orientation with respect to the copying machine 500 reversed.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of a process of bringing a member in contact with or in proximity to the coating film F into contact with or in proximity to the coating film F.
As shown by arrows I ₁ , I _2, and I ₃ in FIG. 24 from the state of FIG. 23, the developing device 12, the transfer device 13, and the charging roller 8 are brought into contact with the coating film F, and the arrow Q in FIG. As shown, the heating roller 30 in the thermal fixing device 22 is brought into contact with the coating film F. As a result, the coating film F can be returned to the state wound around the supply film winding shaft 20 as the supply film roll 20r, and the coating film F can be used again. The reuse of the coating film F at 500 ends.

In addition, as a method of reusing the coating film F forming the recovery film roll 19r of the recovery film take-up shaft 19 in the state where the supply film roll 20r of the coating film F is no longer wound as the supply film roll 20r, the coating film The present invention is not limited to the configuration in which the positions of the supply film winding shaft 20 and the recovered film winding shaft 19 are exchanged by removing the holding cartridge 18 and mounting it while changing the orientation with respect to the copying machine 500.
For example, when the supply film roll 20r of the coating film F is no longer wound, the coating film F is conveyed during image formation from the supply film winding shaft 20 to the recovered film winding shaft 19 after coating the photoreceptor 10. On the other hand, you may convey the coating film F of a reverse direction.
Specifically, when the supply film roll 20r of the covering film F is no longer wound, the heating roller 30, the pressure roller 32, the transfer belt 17, the photoconductor 10, the charging roller 8, which are in contact with the covering film F, And the coating film F which forms the collection | recovery film roll 19r with the collection | recovery film winding axis | shaft 19 by rotating the supply film winding axis | shaft 20 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction at the time of image formation to the supply film winding axis | shaft 20 Return to the wound supply film roll 20r. Thereby, the coating film F can be stored in the supply film winding axis | shaft 20 side, and the coating film F wound up by the collection | recovery film winding axis | shaft 19 can be used again.
The configuration in which the coating film F is conveyed and reused in the opposite direction to that during image formation is such that the supply film winding shaft 20 and the recovered film winding shaft 19 are integrally supported from the copying machine 500 main body. The present invention is not limited to a detachable configuration and can be applied.

  Further, as in the copying machine 500 of the second embodiment, the configuration in which the coating film F passes through the thermal fixing device 22 together with the sheet S, and the coating film F and the sheet S are separated after passing through the fixing nip is a supply film winding The configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the shaft 20 and the recovered film take-up shaft 19 are integrally supported so as to be detachable from the main body of the copying machine 500, and it is considered that offset can be prevented and image quality can be improved. It is done.

  In the copying machine 500 according to the first and second embodiments described above, the surface of the photoreceptor 10 is coated with the coating film F, and then uniformly charged by the charging roller 8 and irradiated with the writing light 3 to form an electrostatic latent image. However, the order of coating with the coating film F, uniform charging, and formation of the electrostatic latent image is not limited to this. The surface of the photoreceptor 10 after the uniform charging and before the formation of the electrostatic latent image may be coated with the coating film F, or the surface of the photoreceptor 10 before the development after the formation of the electrostatic latent image may be coated. You may coat | cover with the film F.

As described above, the copying machine 500 that is the image forming apparatus of each of the above-described embodiments includes the photosensitive member 10 that is a latent image carrier that moves on the surface, the charging device 11 that is a charging unit that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive member 10, and the like. And a laser writing device 47 which is a latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 10. Further, the copying machine 500 includes a developing device 12 that is a toner image forming unit that supplies toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 10 to form a toner image, and a toner image formed on the photoconductor 10. And a transfer device 13 constituting toner image transfer means for transferring the toner image to a sheet S as a recording medium. Further, a supply film winding shaft 20 which is a coating film supply means for supplying a coating film F which is a latent image carrier covering coating film is provided on the surface of the photoreceptor 10. Then, the coating film F covers the surface of the photoreceptor 10 at least at the developing position where the toner image is formed by the developing device 12. Further, the coating film F is detached from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 between the transfer position B and the coating film supply position where the next coating film F is supplied.
As described above, the electrostatic latent image of the photoreceptor 10 as the electrophotographic photoreceptor is developed through the coating film F as the film layer, and then the covering film F on which the toner image is formed is peeled off from the photoreceptor 10. Since the toner can be essentially prevented from remaining on the photoconductor 10, a cleaning member for cleaning the toner remaining on the photoconductor 10 becomes unnecessary.
Further, a coated film holding cartridge that integrally supports a supply film winding shaft 20 that is a supply film holding member and a recovery film winding shaft 19 that is a recovery film holding member, and is detachable from the copying machine 500 main body. Since the replacement of the supply film winding shaft 20 and the recovery film winding shaft 19 is completed by exchanging the covering film holding cartridge 18, the supply film winding shaft 20 and the recovery film winding shaft 19 are replaced. Can be easily replaced.

  Further, the supply film holding member provided in the copying machine 500 of the present embodiment is a supply film winding shaft 20 that winds the coating film F before being supplied to the photoreceptor 10 around the shaft portion and holds it as a supply film roll 20r. The recovered film holding member is a recovered film take-up shaft 19 that winds and recovers the coated film F after being separated from the photoreceptor 10 at the shaft portion and holds it as a roll-like recovered film roll 19r. The supply film winding shaft 20 and the recovered film winding shaft 19 are integrally supported by the coating film holding cartridge 18 so that the coating film F made of a thin film and difficult to handle is held. The handling at the time of exchange with a certain supply film winding axis | shaft 20 and the collection | recovery film winding axis | shaft 19 becomes easy, and exchange property improves.

  Further, in the copying machine 500 of this embodiment, members (the charging roller 8, the developing device 12, and the transfer device 13) that are in contact with or close to the covering film F in a state where the covering film holding cartridge 18 is mounted on the copying machine 500 main body. Is separated from the coating film F when the coating film holding cartridge 18 is removed from the copying machine 500 main body, thereby preventing contact between the coating film F and other members that may impair the exchangeability of the coating film holding cartridge 18. Therefore, the covering film holding cartridge 18 can be easily replaced.

  Further, the copying machine 500 of the first embodiment includes a film adhesion releasing member 14 that is a film adhesion releasing means for releasing adhesion of the coating film F to the photoreceptor 10 when the covering film holding cartridge 18 is removed from the copying machine 500 main body. As a result, the close contact between the covering film F and the photosensitive member 10 which may hinder the exchangeability of the covering film holding cartridge 18 is released, so that the covering film holding cartridge 18 can be easily replaced.

  Further, in the copying machine 500 of the first modification or the second embodiment, the covering film holding cartridge 18 is removed from the copying machine 500 main body and then the direction of mounting on the copying machine 500 main body is changed, so that the supply film winding shaft 20 and the recovery film are changed. Since it can be mounted on the copying machine 500 in a state where the mounting position with the winding shaft 19 is changed, the covering film F wound around the supply film winding shaft 20 is used up and the recovered film winding shaft 19 is used. The covering film F can be reused and recycled by setting the covering film holding cartridge 18 wound up in the reverse direction of the supply film winding shaft 20 and the recovered film winding shaft 19. The running cost can be reduced. Furthermore, since the member which comprises the covering film holding | maintenance cartridge 18 containing the covering film F can be reused, the load to an environment can be reduced.

  In the copying machine 500 of the second embodiment, the coating film F is separated from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 and then enters the fixing unit of the thermal fixing device 22 that fixes the toner image on the sheet S together with the sheet S. By separating from the sheet S after passing through, it is possible to eliminate the occurrence of an abnormal image in fixing such as offset.

Further, like the copying machine 500 of the present embodiment, the coating film F (supply film roll 20r) held by the supply film winding shaft 20 and the coating film F (collection film roll 19r) held by the recovery film winding shaft 19 are retained. If the photosensitive film 10 is coated from the supply film winding shaft 20 to the recovered film winding shaft 19, the coating film in the opposite direction to the transport of the coating film F during image formation is provided. You may comprise so that conveyance of F is attained.
Specifically, when the supply film roll 20r of the covering film F is no longer wound, the heating roller 30, the pressure roller 32, the transfer belt 17, the photoconductor 10, the charging roller 8, which are in contact with the covering film F, And the coating film F which forms the collection | recovery film roll 19r with the collection | recovery film winding axis | shaft 19 by rotating the supply film winding axis | shaft 20 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction at the time of image formation to the supply film winding axis | shaft 20 Return to the wound supply film roll 20r. As a result, the coating film F can be stored on the supply film winding shaft 20 side, and the coating film F wound on the recovered film winding shaft 19 can be used again. Waste and user economy Load can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st conveyance screw 2 2nd conveyance screw 3 Writing light 4 Developing roller 5 Toner density sensor 6 Pattern density sensor 7 Transfer roller 8 Charging roller 10 Photoconductor 11 Charging device 12 Developing device 12a Developing container 13 Transfer device 15 First stretch Roller 16 Second tension roller 17 Transfer belt 18 Covered film holding cartridge 18a Pre-use cartridge 18b Used cartridge 18c Cartridge mounting position 19 Collected film take-up shaft 19r Collected film roll 20 Supply film winding shaft 20r Supply film roll 21 Registration roller 22 Heat Fixing Device 30 Heating Roller
32 pressure roller 35 discharge roller 39 discharge stack unit 47 laser writing device 48 rotary polygon mirror 49 polygon motor 50 scanning optical system 53 light source 54 mirror 55 imaging optical lens 56 image sensor 57 contact glass 61 sheet cassette 62 calling roller 63 Supply roller 64 Separation roller 66 Sheet conveyance roller 67 Manual feed tray 68 Manual paper feed unit 70 Development doctor 100 Copier main body 200 Image reading device 300 Sheet bank 400 Automatic document conveyance device
500 Copier B Transfer Position C Sheet Conveying Device F Covered Film Fa Unused Film Fb Used Film S Sheet R Sheet Conveying Route R1 Supplying Route R2 Manual Feeding Route

JP 2008-032851 A

Claims (7)

A latent image carrier that moves on the surface;
Charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the latent image carrier;
Latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier;
An image forming apparatus comprising toner image forming means for supplying toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier to form a toner image,
A cover film winding means to wind the object covering film you coat the surface of the upper Kisenzo bearing member latent image bearing member surface with the toner image forming position where a toner image is formed by at least the toner image forming means,
Before the surface of the latent image carrier coated with the coating film reaches the position where the coating film can be wound again by the coating film winding means, the toner image formation is performed with the surface of the latent image carrier covered. Coating film separating means for separating the coating film that has passed through the position from the surface of the latent image carrier;
Transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on the coating film at the toner image forming position to a recording medium;
A supply film holding member for holding the coating film before being supplied to a position wound around the latent image carrier by the coating film winding means;
A recovered film holding member that recovers and holds the coated film separated from the surface of the latent image carrier by the coated film separating means,
The supply film holding member and the recovered film holding member are integrally supported, and has a covering film holding cartridge that is detachable from the apparatus main body,
The coating film winding means, Ri configuration der wrapping the coated film to the surface of the latent image bearing member before being uniformly charged by the charging means,
The coating film holding cartridge, an image forming apparatus, wherein the configuration der Rukoto detached from the apparatus main body by pulling out in a width direction orthogonal on the surface of the latent image bearing member surface movement direction of the latent image bearing member . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The supply film holding member is a supply film winding shaft that is wound around the shaft portion before being supplied to the latent image carrier and is held as a supply film roll.
The recovery film holding member is a recovery film take-up shaft that winds and collects the coated film after being separated from the latent image carrier and holds it as a roll-like recovery film roll. Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
An image characterized in that a member in contact with or in proximity to the covering film in a state where the covering film holding cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body is separated from the covering film when the covering film holding cartridge is removed from the apparatus main body. Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a film adhesion releasing unit that releases adhesion of the coating film to the latent image carrier when the covering film holding cartridge is removed from the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:
The covering film holding cartridge can be attached to the apparatus main body with the supply film holding member and the recovered film holding member being exchanged in a different direction after being detached from the apparatus main body and changing the direction of attachment to the apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The coating film is separated from the surface of the latent image carrier, and then enters the fixing unit of the fixing device for fixing the toner image on the recording medium together with the recording medium, and is separated from the recording medium after passing through the fixing unit. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The coating film held by the supply film holding member and the coating film held by the recovered film holding member are continuous,
The coating film can be conveyed in the direction opposite to the conveyance of the coating film during image formation after the latent image carrier is coated from the supply film holding member to the recovered film holding member. An image forming apparatus.

Images